The plane shock response of PBX 9502 was measured from 0.5 to 25 GPa. The explosive is 95-wL % triamino-trinitrobenzene powder coated with Kel-F 800 plastic; porosity was 2.6%. Shock initiation sensitivity, the Hugoniot, and dynamic yield behavior were studied. Experiments done were explosively driven wedge tests and particle velocity history measurements using electromagnetic gauges at a light-gas gun. A new analysis of the wedge test was implemented. Based on wedge test results, an approximation for the particle velocity at the shock front is constructed, which is used in functional composition with the Hugoniot to calculate the shock path of each experiment. Optimization on the parameters of the approximation and the Hugoniot simultaneously ensures agreement of the Hugoniot with the overall kinematics of the shock growth as wen as the particle velocity/shock velocity data. The individual shock paths are used to examine the single-curve buildup assumption; the assumption is not valid for PBX 9502. A ramping elastic precursor of 0.073 GPa strength was observed. The yield and weak shock behavior are interpreted in terms of porosity, crystaUine anisotropy, and residual strain in the pressed, plastic-bonded explosive.
The Mushroom test is desi ed to characterize the corner turning performance of a new generation of merit are examined using pure TATB (both Livermore's Ultrafine and a Los Alamos researxblend) and PBX9504 as examples. less insensitive booster exp ff" osives. The test is described in detail, and three corner turning fi res-of-'This is opposite to an initiation test, which delivers a relatively large, weak, pressure stimulus to the sample.
The Mushroom test is desi ed to characterize the corner turning performance of a new generation of merit are examined using pure TATB (both Livermore's Ultrafine and a Los Alamos researxblend) and PBX9504 as examples. less insensitive booster exp ff" osives. The test is described in detail, and three corner turning fi res-of-
INTRODUCTIONThe use of insensitive high explosives in main charges has inevitably shifted safety concerns toward detonators and boosters. In particular, one would like to replace conventional HMX-based boosters with a less sensitive material. In response to this need Livermore has developed Ultrafine TATB (UF-TATB) and Los Alamos has developed PBX9504 (70 wt.% TATB, 25 wt.% PETN, 5 wt.% binder). These materials are less shock sensitive than conventional boosters, but the increased safety comes at a price. This is that less sensitive explosives have thicker reaction zones, and corner turning performance depends inversely on the product of the local wave curvature and the reaction zone width. Consequently, to maximize safety one must generally accept a booster material with marginal corner turning properties. Engineering design becomes critical, as one must decide how marginal the system can be given reasonable tolerances on factors like particle size, pressed density, and initial temperature. To make such decisions one needs a corner turning test optimized for the sensitivity of the materials in question. The Mushroom test is designed for this purpose.All corner turning tests use the same basic idea: one delivers a small (modestly exceeding the failure diameter) but strong pressure stimulus' to
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